Dersingham man to wear England vest

Local runner and postman Digby Frammingham selected for England Masters Team at Great North 10k Run.

Digby Frammingham, a 62-year-old local runner and postman who lives in Dersingham, has earned the prestigious opportunity to represent England Masters Athletics in the over-60 category at the Great North 10k Run in Newcastle on July 6th - an event that coincidentally falls on his birthday and attracts over 6,000 participants.

To qualify for this honour, Digby had to finish in the top 3 for his age group (60 to 65) at one of the 5 qualifying races around the country and also achieve the qualifying time for his age group (41 minutes 30 seconds). He achieved this at the Keith Hall Memorial 10k at Thorney in March competing against runners from all over England.

In addition to his impressive qualification, Digby ran a time of 39 minutes and 41 seconds to finish in the top 100 among all age groups at the Gear 10k race in King’s Lynn in May, competing against over 2,500 runners. This accomplishment underscores the significance of donning an England vest, a milestone that represents a major achievement for any athlete.

The England team will face off against competitors from Wales, Northern Ireland, and an Armed Forces team, making this a highly competitive event.

Digby has been passionate about sports since his youth, having played football for Heacham and Old Hunstanton. He has always been a keen runner but over the past decade, he has shifted his focus to 5km and 10km racing and is an active member of the West Norfolk Athletics Club.

Not to be outdone, Digby’s son, Charlie, 17, is also an accomplished runner having represented Norfolk at many races. He has matched his father's best 10k time of 34 minutes and aspires to compete at the highest levels of the sport.

Seventeen-year-old Carlie (left) running with Dad

Unfortunately, Digby is currently dealing with a calf strain injury, which has affected his pre-race training schedule. He remains optimistic about his participation in July, stating, “It is such a great event and a great honour to represent England, so I am desperate to run".